Is it wrong to never holiday abroad?

[chickenflicking]

We always take our DC on holiday every year to somewhere in the UK. However, they are becoming more aware that their friends go abroad on planes, and they want to do that too. I'm starting to feel guilty, as I know that when I was a child, we never went abroad and I always felt that I was missing out.

I don't particularly like going abroad (the heat, but also because I'm quite a boring homebody) but I am willing to take them. We have savings, but when I look into it, I find holidays for upwards of £3000 and I find it hard to justify how long it took to save with one week in the sun!

I think I should do it to give the DC the experience and memories, so I need a different mindset about justifying the cost! A lot of people spend this every year on a holiday, after all, don't they? Please give me your opinions - I sort of need to be persuaded that it's worth it!

We’ve driven to France twice now. The kids don’t seem to care where we go. There main interest is not being bored and having something to do. Sadly they’re not into museums or cultural things (they have asd and adhd) so we tend to be quite active and swim a lot. I think UK holidays are fab and like you £3k seems so much money for a week away.

Why don't you alternate UK and 'abroad'? We did Greece in a May half term and France in the summer ( camping, well under £1000 for 5). And we would go to cornwall and Dorset and Northumbria as well either camping or cheap holiday cottage, we never spent a fortune we didn't have much spare cash. The kids ( adults now) speak highly and fondly of all the holidays no matter where we were even the camping holidays in wales when we sat in the laundrette to keep dry!

You could let them go on foreign school trips as then you don't need to pay for the whole family at school holiday rates.

Not only is it not wrong but it’s admirable and will become more common as people realise the environmental cost of flights for leisure isn’t worth it.

Wrong? What a bizarre question.

YANBU but I love a holiday abroad! Took mine twice in the last six months, lots of cutting down and saving involved though, and they have loved it. Guaranteed sun, warm pools and a lovely beach. BUT it's not for everyone. My eldest is 13 now and I wouldn't have taken them much younger as it can be yard work. Do what makes you all happy.

I would say to them when they're older and earning their own money they can have as many holidays as they like! It's not wrong to feel guilty. I've only ever flown once in my life and hated it! The children won't miss out... At least the children have holidays :)

You can holiday very reasonably if you're clever at booking it separately - book EasyJet Ryanair etc flights as soon as they are released and stay in an apartment eg booking.com

We've stayed eg in Valencia in a three bedroom apartment in August for around £75 a night (for the whole apartment, not per person).

Another time we stayed in a hotel in Lake Garda and paid about £1k less than a package by booking flights early with EasyJet and the hotel direct.

We have friends who never take their DC (now teens) abroad but go abroad separately themselves with their mates, which I find very odd. I was lucky enough to be taken on many holidays abroad as a child and as a parent I see travelling abroad as a fabulous extra part of their education.

Holidaying in the UK can be ridiculous price wise. And I remember looking at a caravan mobile home thing in France and being gobsmacked at the £3k+ price tag

It is not wrong at all. Assuming it is not out of some fear of places abroad.

Better your approach than those who fly to a holiday resort, never make any attempt even to speak a few words of the local language, and expect 'English' food all the time.

YANBU - we didn’t take our two abroad until they were 5 and 6. We had some lovely camping holidays down south and in the Lakes. We also did Butlins, Center Parcs and a couple of caravan parks and self catering breaks in the UK quite a few times in Northumberland.
It’s entirely up to your family what works for you what you want to do and what you can afford etc.

We stuck to UK while DC were in junior school. Partly because DS2 is autistic and hated a change of bed or food and it was easier to make a UK cottage seem like home. Partly because we didn't think the expense was worth it when they were young. (Apart from a weekend at Eurodisney) But once they got to about 10 yrs old we started exploring the world more, because I want them to be curious about life beyond our small island.

It doesn't have to be hot or expensive. We went to Iceland very cheaply. We've had summer caravan holidays in Normandy and Brittany which they loved. France is great as the weather is pretty similar in the North of France, and the food is often similar to our own but with a slight twist to make it feel like they are experiencing something new.

Definitely not wrong. As a child, I didn't go abroad until mid-teens (yet cost wasn't an issue and parents were well travelled). We always take our main holidays in the UK. There's so much in the UK to explore - I think it's sad when people only holiday abroad and hardly know anywhere in the UK other than where they live. Like you, I don't like the heat. Easier to pack a carload than a few bags/cases. Easier foodwise given DS's anxieties around food. Lots of things more easily done in your own language than others (eg kids trails, museums, etc).

Having said that, we probably go abroad every other year for a few days or maybe a week - eg fly for a city break or drive to northern France at Easter or half-term, but we plan very carefully as I hate being in an unknown place and not knowing where to go, what to do!

So don't go abroad if you don't want to, but maybe try out a short break sometime?

Hmm. I don't want to say it's wrong but I do think it's a shame for children not to experience other countries if it can be afforded.

Personally we find going abroad cheaper than holidaying in the UK but we don't do packages. We hunt for cheap flights, shop around for accommodation and don't necessarily go for the most obvious destinations.

Well certainly not these days, particularly if you are to fly because of carbon footprint. Having said that, exposing children to other cultures broadens their horizons. I feel very fortunate to have visited as much of the world as I have. Children can still have lovely holidays here, I wouldn't feel guilty about it.

I've just booked flights to Milan next June for 3 adults and 1 child for £275 total. We will then hire a car £150 and stay in a mobile home on a campsite in Lake Garda (£700 but could have got something similar for £400). It can definitely be done for less than £3k if you think outside the box. Personally all inclusive resorts in Europe are my idea of hell - and I've tried a few! We love uk holidays but unless you're in a tent they're definitely not cheap either!

No, it is eco-friendly. I do like seeing other cultures and peoples but it's your choice.

Although a week in the sun doesn't cost £3k

It’s great for the planet 👍

We didn't go abroad when the DC were young, partly due to cost but also there just didn't seem much point. They were happy in the UK and we didn't want all the hassle involved with travelling abroad with young children. For the past few years we've done European camping holidays (through Eurocamp but there are lots of other providers) to France and Holland. There are lots of options all over Europe but we don't particularly like the heat so don't go too far south. Our first trip was to Normandy. Beautiful beaches and countryside, not too far to travel. DC loved the freedom of the campsite and all the activities and it wasn't too expensive as we mainly self-catered. If you don't fancy a campsite, there are lots of inexpensive gites available.
I know that foreign holidays are by no means an essential but I think the DC have really benefitted from the experience of seeing other countries.

@Witchend - not sure why you think going aboard only means a pool?

We went to Spain and saw moorish castles, churches which had been mosques before, the spot where the battle of Trafalgar was, saw Andalusian horses dancing, went on a whale/dolphin watching trip.

In most of Europe we can visit castles, museums or other historic sites. We are off to Germany on Friday and when we come back we will have seen castles, cathedrals, Roman ruins, walked through countryside, visited towns, will visit three countries and hear two languages (three if you count swiss-german extra) in one day,. Not a single theme park or pool in sight.

There is a lot more in the world than an AI/beach resort.

@Witchend a holiday abroad is absolutely not limited to sitting next to a pool? Like what even on earth are you on about ..
I have travelled extensively since quite young until now(mid 20s)and am so grateful for it mainly due to my love for different languages and cultures. Places like Kuala Lumpur, India, Mauritius amongst others are abound of different experiences to enjoy. I absolutely cherish memories of eating local food, visiting local markets, walking in town a day,another day in the countryside.

OP it would be a shame for the kids not to get to blend with other cultures and maybe they might grow a love for different languages. I believe it really helps in boadening world views and ways of thinking by experiencing different cultures firsthand. I have a holiday booked for abroad for myself, DH, DM & DD and it's costing ALL of us £2000 for 11 days! You can definitively get something for cheaper than £3k

As far as I can see it means going and sitting by the pool in a different country, which gives you not an awful lot of culture, and ours would rather go somewhere and do lots of different activities
What an odd attitude, @Witchend! You know other countries have activities you can do too surely? It’s not just the UK with things to do other than sit by a pool?
I hate pool/beach holidays. I’ve been to lots of other countries without having to do one.

'Abroad' is not some kind of hot place where people sit by the pool bored out of their mind.Yes I think it's a shame children don't get to experience different countries and cultures. What about just a long weekend in a not hot country? Does not need to cost tons - cheap flights, budget hotels or AirBnb - and you might actually like it.

I never went abroad until I was 18.

My dc have only been abroad once, a long weekend in a European city to see relatives. We are going to a Greek island this week and they are sooo excited

I too was feeling guilty because they are aware of some of their friends going abroad several times a year but we aren't doing a week in the sun/pool, that is not my idea of a holiday nor dh's. We shall hire a car, travel about, see countryside, coast and culture much like we do on our UK holidays.

Why would it be ‘wrong’?

You could do some weekends in easily accessible places? Amsterdam is only a 45 min plane ride away. If you’re on the south coast France is obviously easily accessible.

It doesn’t have to be a sit by the pool and sweat holiday.